Method and means for coating wires



Feb. 11, 1958 E. ROTHSCHILD Filed Nov. 25, 1953 METHOD AND MEANS FOR COATING WIRES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 MA7A INVENTOR. 2764/? W/'HJCH/ www@ Feb. 11, 1958 ROTHSCHILD METHOD AND MEANS FOR comme WIRES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV 25, 1953l Feb. 11, 1958 E. RoTl-lsczl-HLD` l 2,823,180

METHOD AND MEANSVFOR COATING WIRES Filed Nov. 25, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y INVENTOR.l 50a/4f? Raf/Walla a United States Patent 2,823,1so METHOD AND MEANS FOR CoATlNG WIRES .Edgar Rothschild, Secaucus, N. J. Application November 2s, 1953,'serial No. '394,251

i s claims. l(ci. 204-201) This invention relates to an apparatus yfor treating, in jparticular metalizing or coating wireY and similar lengthy 'metal stripr material.

Itis oneof the objects of the present invention to v.provvide means jffacilitating the treatment of a plurality of wires, which are led insubstantially parallel and straight p'a'th's during sequential operational steps by which said wires are simultaneously cleansed, washed, lelectro-plated, as well vas rinsed and dried in continuous operation.

VIt is anoth'erobject of the invention to -provide an apparatus of the aforesaid characterin which wire material is drawn from `a lplurality of reels and successively passed 'through a caustic cleaning bath, vthen rinsed and dried; Vthen subjected toan acid cleaning, rinsed and dried; then electroplated, and thereafter subjected to final rinsing 'and drying, before the wire material is again wound on reels.

'It is a Ifurther *object of the invention to provide means affording -the aforesaid operationsto be successively carried out'on the wires while a plurality of the latter taken from a numberof Afeed reels is simultaneously traveling :zo-extensively `toward take-up reels.

`It f-is still another-'object 'of Ythe invention to provide means ensuringcontrolled performance of operations during the travel of the wires from station to station ofthe apparatus-without interruption ofthe continuity of movemen of the wires.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide means making it possible that the operational steps `are *carried-out speedily and uniformly on the wires, resulting in maximum output and high-quality products.

Still another object of the-present invention is to vprovide `l'means conducive Vto a considerable simplified construction of an apparatusfor treating or coating wirematerial, whereby aplurality of tank units and'rinsing stations are u sed which are substantially made .up of identical parts but used for different purposes during sequential operational steps.

Yet another object of the present linvention is to` provide means 'affording adjustability of the various parts relative to the path of the wire or wires and/or to the level `of they liquid or liquids employed for -treating the wire or wires and also for drying the latter.

Still a further object of the present invention `is'ithe provisionvof means rendering the possibilityof interrupting or eliminating treatment for at least one or some of the wires while the remainder of the wires whose--treat ment is still in progress passes without disturbance and interruption through the various treatment tanks or baths and Without regard vto the eliminated wire or wires.

The other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it being distinctly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken as in any way limiting the spirit or scope of this invention.

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In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective View of an apparatus constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional view of one of the tanks of .the apparatus depicting the caustic cleaning bath and the rst rinsing station, .as well as part ofthe acid-cleaning tank; Y

Fig. .3,is fa `perspective vand exploded view, with some `parts in section, of a ,portion of the ,rinsing and drying station; l l

Fig. 4 is a perspective front View of two of the `air noz'zle's used in the :drying station of Fig. 3;

.'Fig. A5 ,isa .perspect`ive view, parts in section, of the electro-'plating tank and co-operating parts thereof.

Fig. 6 is avert'ialcsectional view of the tank for plating as well as for performing final rinsing and drying operations;

Fig. 7, s a top plan view of a part ofthe structure disclosedin Fig. 6.

Referring now 'more particularly to the drawings,Y theapparatu's :herein disclosed is primarily adapted for the 'treatfrrleln't of copperand similar wire and it contemplates the `subjection, ofthe wire to tin-plating or coating, Whereby irst a cleaning treatment takes place by passing the wires 'through a caustic bath, indicated at 1; then subjecting the wires to a rinsing and drying operation at the stage 'generally indicated at 2; then subjecting the wires to acid cleaning at vthe stageiindicated at 2a; then rinsing anddrying the wires at the stage 3a; Vthen electro-plating the wires 'at the location or station generally designated at 3; Vthen `causing the wires to be rinsed and dried a 4the station indicated'at 4. The wire or wires then pass over the guide rollers 5 to the reels 6 upon which the wires are evenly-wound in layersl by known "distributors 1. The operations upon the wire take place while the wirel is in rcon'tinuous movement from its supplyreels Sto the take-up reels i6rin the direction indicated by thel arrows, and the travel of the wire or wires from the feedfreels L81 to the ltake-up reels visrsubstantially a straight'line.

The-'various fstations at which the -wireor wires are treated, areal-.ranged von a suitable .table or frame-10a, with the longitudinal supporting bars 9 -and 10, connected"` Vby a:plurality .of cross members ll-asrequired, to lend strength and rigidityto'the frame.

AAt the entrance-end of the apparatus is provided a supporting bracket y12 which supportsa Iplurality of feed or supply reels 8 lfrom which vthe wires to be Vtreated aredraWn, so that'the wires simultaneously pass along through the plant or japparatusand are treated successivelyatthe various stations Vorestages thereof. :The wires drawn from the reels 8 pass over idlers or :guide .rolls 13, which may be rotativelysupportedl on thevbracket 12, `and also overtheidlers.16,'the several wires passing along through the apparatus in lparallel relation until Vthey-reach guide rolls l,14 rotatively supported on Ythe yupright frameslS located on the vcrossm'ember 11a,` and thencezpass over the guide Arolls -5 -to `betwoun'd o nlthe -take-up-reels. It Vwill begunderstood that the take-'up reels 6-Varerrotated by any fsuitable.,Jtrlecllianism .,(not shown), inorder vto cause the wires to be drawn .through'.thefapparatus attherequired -rate tof tra-vel.

After leavingthek-lguide Yrolls 13 yand "16, the wires pass .first .througha stainless steel-l tank containingy caustic cleaning .bath 7.1'(Eig. 2). Saidy tank is identical ;or someWhat-similarjn construction `to Vthat for the zelectro plating bath shownin fFigs.5 and 6, and-consists'of a container VZfhaving"Y a main chamber 21, end .chambers- 22 and 23 .by yway of the 'openings' 24 andy25 in the wally of (theA side.k passage or by-pass, 85. Locatedawithin the .main Chamb/eh21 is` a AtraygfZl 'of stainless steel which is pesitienedfabevetthefbottompf @ther-containerA20/aand' supported by several insulated cross bars 26a. Electric i connector straps 27 are secured at the top to a longitudinally extending bar 28 supported by the uprights or posts 29 rising from the frame of the apparatus.

Secured between the side walls of the container or tank 20 is a plurality of spaced comb-likerwire guides 30 (similar to those shown at 30a in Fig.V 5) provided with spaced slots 31a through which wires pass in contact with a caustic cleaning liquid contained in the tank. While the Wires are traveling in the slots 31a they are submerged in the bath contained in the tank, as indicated at 32 in Fig. 2. If for any reason it should be found desirable or necessary to avoid the subjection of the wires to the action of the bath, the wires may be caused to clear the bath by elevating them and causing them to ride through the notches 33a provided in the tops of the wire guides 30. Each of the end walls 34 of the main chamber 21 the top with a slotted wire separator and guide 35 through which the several wires are guided.

The caustic cleaning fluid in the tank 20 suitably heated (not shown) to about 150 to 200 F. is circulated by means of a pump 36 held on bracket 37 which is positioned on the casing for the by-pass or side passage 85. Leading from the pump 36 is a pipe 38a which passes down through by-pass 24 and is provided adjacent to the bottom of the same with inlet openings 39a. The pipe 38a continues down below the bottom of the tank and is upturned as indicated at 40, permitting the liquid to emerge at 4l against dellector cone means 2Gb for evenly distributing the fluid in main chamber 2l of the tank. There is a constant circulation of the liquid in the tank, the same following the course similar to that indicated by the arrows in Fig. without passing through pump 36, the liquid being thus maintained at the level required in the main chamber 21 of the tank.

The overow from the main chamber descends into the end compartments 22 and 23 to flow into the bypass 85 and be suctionally drawn through the openings 39a in pipe 38a by the action of the pump 36, and recirculated.

After leaving the caustic cleaning bath just described, the wires continue to the first rinsing and drying stage generally indicated at 2. This stage includes a tank 42 serving as a collector for the water or other rinsing Huid that is ejected against the moving wires by means of spray nozzles 43 extending from a water supply pipe 44. Fitted in the tank 42 above the bottom thereof is a tray 45 which supports a plurality of spaced guide strips 46, providing slots 47 between them in which the wires travel. A crosspiece 48 is secured across one end of these strips 46 and the water nozzles 43 extend through the crosspiece 48 to thereby inject streams of water against the wires traveling through the slots 47 between the strips 46. At the outlet ends of the strips 46, adjacent to the crosspiece 48, the strips 46 are undercut as indicated at 49 to thereby provide inclined baille surfaces 50 against which the water llow from the nozzles 43 is directed to thereby cause the same to impinge against the wires traveling in the slots 47. It will be observed that the water is ejected from these nozzles in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the wires, thus insuring thorough cleansing of the wires.

The crosspiece 48 is slotted as indicated at 51, the slots 51 guiding the rinsed wires as they leave the tray 45. After leaving the tray 45, the wires pass between pairs of air nozzles 52 so arranged that each wire passes between two inwardly-directed nozzles as shown in Fig. 4. t The nozzles are attened at their ends as shown in Fig. fl and are attached to a manifold pipe 53 secured at its ends to angle bars 54 adjustable by the screws 56 in the fixed brackets 55 located at the opposite side walls of the tank 42. This arrangement provides for raising and lowering of the manifold pipe 53 to insure direct impingeof the tank is provided at ment of warm air ejected from the nozzles 52, against the wires traveling between each pair of nozzles. Heated or cold air under pressure is delivered through the manifold 53 from any suitable source by way of the supply pipe 57 shown in Fig. 1. The rinsing water ejected from the water nozzles 43 descends from the tray 45 into the collection tank 42 and drains out of the same through the outlet pipe 58 located at the bottom of the tank 42.

After leaving the rinsing and drying station indicated at 2, the wires travel to the acid cleansing bath generally indicated at 2a. The construction of this section is substantially similar to that shown at 1 and includes a rubber-lined stainless steel tank 21a in which an acid cleaning iluid 83 is circulated at room temperature and in a manner described in connection with the caustic bath at station 1. As a cleaning uid lluoboric acid solution, containing stannous fluoborate, tin and naphthol is employed.

When the wires have traveled through the acid bath at station 2a they are rinsed and then dried by the apparatus forming station 3a. This apparatus is similar to that constituting station 2 and disclosed in detail in Fig. 3. After leaving the air nozzles at station 3a the wires pass into the electroplating tank at station 3 where the wires are electroplated.

The construction of this stage is somewhat similar to thatshown 1n connection with the caustic and acid bath apparatus, and is disclosed in detail in Fig. 5. ln this stage of the apparatus, there is included a stainless steel tank 60 having a main chamber 6l within which is extended a stainless steel tray 62 constituting the anode support. As anode, pure metal slabs (tin or tin-lead) are placed in said tray and are replaced from time to time. The tray 62 is covered with carbon or graphite for conducting current to the anode slabs and is connected to conductor straps 63 which make contact with bar 64 supported by and suitably electrically insulated from the uprights 29 rising from the frame of the apparatus. The anode tray 62 is charged by current communicated to it through said straps 63 which receive the current from the bar 64 charged from a suitable current source.

As the wires pass through the electrolytic bath 66 contained in the tank 60, the wires form the cathodes and will thus acquire the required electroplating in the known manner. The wires, in passing through the electrolytic bath 66 are guided through the separators or guides 30a, having the slots 31a and notches 33a disposed at a higher level than notches 31a as described in connection with the caustic cleaning bath construction. These wire-guiding means or separators are composed of electric insulating material, as are the end guide members 35a supported at the tops of end walls 67 of the tank 60. It will be noted that these end walls 67 are angular or slanted downwardly and outwardly toward the end portions of the tank to prevent oxidation of the electroplating solution 66 which flows gradually down over these end walls from the main tank, to enter into the tank end portions or compartments 22a and 23a and pass therefrom through openings 24a and 25a into the bypass for recirculation through the openings of the pipe 38a at 39a, then through the upturned pipe portion 40a into the main chamber 61 of the tank out of the end 41a of said pipe. l The solution 66 may be maintained at lower temperature by suitable cooling coils in the tank (not shown) and said solution can be drained out of the tank when required through pipe 70, which is provided with a valve 71. The circulation of the electroplating solution 66 in the manner described is attained by pump 36a mounted on a bracket 37a in the manner described with respect to the pump 36 at thercaustic cleaning and acid cleaning statlons.

After leaving the electroplating stage 3, the wires travel through the nal rinsing and drying stage indicated at 4. Since the structure of this stage is similar in all respects to that shown at 2 and 3a it is not to be'described in detail except to explain that atthis stage the wires are rinsed and dried, and when they leave the same they are ready to be rolled upon the several take-up reels `6 in the manner previously explained and by suitable mechani'sm which will distribute the windings of the wires evenly on the several reels.

It will be noted that the travel of the several wires from the supply spools to the collection or take-up reels occurs in straight course; that the several operations on the wires take place while the wires are in movement so that there is no material interruption or pause in the treatment of the wires from one end of the apparatus to the other. Guide rollers are disposed at the beginning and end of the tanks to adjust the wires to desired level and to maintain same during operation.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, it is obvious that the drying of the wires at the several drying stages may take place by means of the ejection of heated or cold air against the wires. lt is apparent that the drying might be carried out by other means, as, for example, the application of wiping elements against the wires. Also, while it has been suggested herein that the iiow of rinsing water applied against the traveling wires shall be supplied in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the wires, it will be apparent that this is not strictly essential since the water flow might be applied angularly and in other directions to secure satisfactory rinsing action on the wires without interfering with the travel thereof through the apparatus.

According to the invention, copper wires may be plated with extremely fine tin film, after the wires have been subjected to a caustic-cleaning solution, which eliminates grease and slivers of copper particles clinging to the wires, and then to an acid-cleaning bath which takes off oxides on the wire surface and slivers.

This latter bath may be dispensed with if the wires were previously annealed and freed of any oxides. Furthermore, other cleaning stages may be added to the treatment plant depending upon the state of the Wires or the like to be coated.

It is further to be noted that the connector bars 27, 63 are preferably insulated against contact with the respective bath solutions. Separate rectifiers (not shown) are used to supply current to said bars (small rectiiiers for cleaning baths and larger rectifier for plating bath) and that contactors of known construction (not shown) may be employed to maintain the respective circuits through the baths. It is well understood that the return connection from the Wires to the negative common bus bar 65, which in turn is insulated from bus bars 28 and 64, may be had in any known and appropriate manner.

These and other modifications of the invention are considered as within the scope ofthe invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a plant for electro-plating a plurality of wires which are disposed to move in spaced apart and parallel relation to each other along straight paths from respective supply reels to corresponding take-up reels; elongated tank means having opposite ends and adapted to contain an electrolyte forming treatment liquid, a plurality of electrically insulated, upright guide bar means successively arranged to and spaced apart from each other, said guide bar means extending across and within said tank means, each of said guide bar means having first notches for normally locating said wires therein during their movement along their paths within said tank means for contact with said treatment liquid when supplied to said tank means and having second notches on the top of said guide bar means for positioning predetermined wires during their mrvement to keep the latter cut of contact with said treatment liquid, treatment liquid circulating means for said tank means, 'said guide bar -means including end guide bar means provided withrespective end-walls sloping toward the ends of saidtank meansvgradually orient overflow of said treatment liquidibeyond said first notches to end compartments defined by spaces between said end tank means Aand said opposite ends of saidtanks, and by-pass 'means level with tlie-bottoin of-and interconnecting said end compartments and operatively connected to said `circulating means, Said tank means being proided'with anode constituting tr'ay means located below said guide bar means, said wires constituting cathodes in said tank means.

2. In a plant for electrolytically treating simultaneously a plurality of wires disposed to move in spaced apart and parallel relation to each other along straight paths from respective supply reels to corresponding take-up reels; elongated tank means having a bottom wall and end walls and adapted to contain a treatment liquid, a plurality of electrically insulated wire guide means arranged in succession to and spaced from each other and extending across and within said tank means, each of said guide means having slots in which said wires are located during their movement along their paths, respectively, treatment liquid circulating means for said tank means, the slots of said guide means having diierent depths, predetermined slots of said guide means being arranged at a level above said tank means so that wires engaged in said predetermined slots are kept out of contact with said treatment liquid when supplied to said tank means, whereas other wires when disposed in the remaining slots of said guide means extend below said level and in contact with said treatment liquid, said wire guide means including at least one end guide means provided with a downwardly and outwardly slanting end wall extending from said end guide means into said tank means and spaced from the respective end wall of the latter to define at least one end compartment for collection of overflow treatment liquid escaping from said one slotted end guide means, a by-pass level with said bottom wall of said tank means and in communication with said one end compartment and operatively connected to said treatment liquid circulating means, and respective electrode means located within said treatment liquid of said tank means, one of said electrode means being formed by said wires.

3. ln a plant for electro-plating simultaneously a plurality of wires disposed to move in spaced apart and parallel relation to each other along straight paths from respective supply reels to corresponding take-up reels; elongated tank means having a bottom wall and end walls and adapted to contain a treatment liquid, a plurality of electrically insulated wire guide means arranged in succession to and spaced from each other and extending across and within said tank means, each of said guide means having slots in which said wires are located during their movement along their paths, respectively, treatment liquid circulating means for said tank means, the slots of said guide means having different depths, predetermined slots of said guide means being arranged at a level above said tank means so that wires engaged in said predetermined slots are kept out of contact with said treatment liquid when supplied to said tank means, whereas other wires when disposed in the remaining slots of said guide means extend below said level and in contact with said treatment liquid, said wire guide means including two spaced end guide means each provided with a downwardly and outwardly slanting end wall extending into said tank means and in spaced relation. to the respective end walls of the latter to define respective end compartments for collection of overflow treatment liquid escaping from said slotted end guide means, a by-pass level with said bottom wall of said tank means positioned exteriorly of said tank means and in communication with said end compartments. said by-pass being operatively vonnected to said treatment liquid circulating means, and

"7 respective electrode means located within said treatment liquid of said tank means, one of said electrode means being formed by saidv wires, the other electrode means forming a tray extending above said bottom of said tank means. 5

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,374,335 Sundh Apr. l2, 1921 10 Richardson Feb. 4, 1930 Rink et al. May 18, 1937 Domm Sept. 14, 1937 Schueler Jan. 21, 1941 Berquist Jan. 11, 1944 VJordan Aug. 28, 1951 Rieger Oct. 2, 1951 

1. IN A PLANT FOR ELECTRO-PLATING A PLURALITY OF WIRES WHICH ARE DISPOSED TO MOVE IN SPACED APART AND PARALLEL RELATION TO EACH OTHER ALONG STRAIGHT PATHS FROM RESPECTIVE SUPPLY REELS TO CORRESPONDING TAKE-UP REELS, ELONGATED TANK MEANS HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS AND ADAPTED TO CONTAIN AN ELECTROLYTE FORMING TREATMENT LIQUID. A PLURALITY OF ELECTRRICALLY INSULATED, UPRIGHT GUIDE BAR MEANS SUCCESSIVELY ARRANGED TO AND SPACED APART FROM EACH OTHER, SAID GUIDE BAR MEANS EXTENDING ACROSS AND WITHIN SAID TANK MEANS, EACH OF SAID GUIDE BAR MEANS HAVING FIRST NOTCHES FOR NORMALLY LOCATING SAID WIRES THEREIN DURING THEIR MOVEMENT ALONG THEIR PATHS WITHIN SAID TANK MEANS FOR CONTACT WITH SAID TREATMENT LIQUID WHEN SUPPLIED TO SAID TANK MEANS AND HAVING SECOND NOTCHES ON THE TOP OF SAID GUIDE BAR MEANS FOR POSITIONING PREDETERMINED WIRES DURING THEIR MOVEMENT TO KEEP THE LATTER OUT OF CONTACT WITH SAID TREATMENT LIQUID, TREATMENT LIQUID CIRCULATING MEANS FOR SAID TANK MEANS, SAID GUIDE BAR MEANS INCLUDING END GUIDE BAR MEANS PROVIDED WITH RESPECTIVE END WALLS SLOPING TOWARD THE ENDS OF SAID TANK MEANS GRADUALLY ORIENT OVERFLOW OF SAID TREATMENT LIQUID BEYOND SAID FIRST NOTCHES TO END COMPARTMENTS DEFINED BY SPACES BETWEEN SAID END TANK MEANS AND SAID OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID TANKS, AND BY-PASS MEANS LEVEL WITH THE BOTTOM OF AND INTERCONNECTING SAID END COMPARTMENTS AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID CIRCULATING MEANS, SAID TANK MEANS BEING PROVIDED WITH ANODE CONSTITUTING TRAY MEANS LOCATED BELOW SAID GUIDE BAR MEANS, SAID WIRES CONSTITUTING CATHODES IN SAID TANK MEANS. 